Romanoff and Juliet (play)

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Romanoff and Juliet
Written by Peter Ustinov
Date premiered2 April 1956 (1956-04-02)
Place premiered Opera House
Manchester, England
Original languageEnglish
Subjectinspired by Romeo and Juliet and the Cold War
GenreComedy
SettingThe Main Square in the Capital City of the smallest country in Europe.

Romanoff and Juliet is a play by Peter Ustinov. A comic spoof of the Cold War, it is set in the small mythical mid-European country of Concordia, whose leader is wooed by the United States and the Soviet Union, each one wanting him as an ally. Russia's ambassador, a member of the Romanoff family, has a son Igor who falls in love with Juliet, the daughter of the US diplomat. The two opposing families, one communist, the other capitalist, represent the warring Capulets and Montagues of Romeo and Juliet .

Contents

The play premiered in Manchester, England on 2 April 1956. [1] The Broadway production, produced by David Merrick and directed by George S. Kaufman, opened on 10 October 1957 at the Plymouth Theatre and ran for 389 performances. [2]

The opening night cast included Peter Ustinov as the General, Gerald Sarracini as Igor, and Elizabeth Allen as Juliet, with Fred Clark, Natalie Schafer, and Jack Gilford in supporting roles.

Ustinov was nominated for Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Actor in Play. In 1961 Ustinov directed and starred in the film adaptation Romanoff and Juliet of the play.

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Romanoff and Juliet may refer to:

<i>Romanoff and Juliet</i> (1961 film) 1961 film

Romanoff and Juliet is a 1961 American Technicolor romantic comedy film adaptation of the play Romanoff and Juliet, which was itself loosely based on Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, released by Universal Pictures. Peter Ustinov wrote the screenplay, directed, and starred in the film. It co-starred John Gavin as Igor and Sandra Dee as Juliet. The film was shot in Italy.

The Unknown Soldier and His Wife is a 1967 play by Peter Ustinov. The play opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on July 6, 1967, after being previewed the week before. The play's initial run of 148 performances was directed by John Dexter and had its scenery and costumes designed by the Motley Theatre Design Group.

"Romanoff and Juliet" is a 1964 Australian television play based on the play by Peter Ustinov.

References

  1. BrainyHistory.com
  2. "Romanoff and Juliet". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.

Further reading